To Save A Lost Soul continued
Author: Loree (Jadesheridan)
Disclaimer: just like last time I don't own anything but jade and the characters I filled in. Well, the idea of the story too, but the setting and established characters are the property of JMS and Warner Bros. and Babylonian productions.
Summary, time frame and Notes: Well hi all. I am sorry it took so long to get this to Jump Now...I had it on the Dark B5 list in the files section and now it can be here on Jumpy as well.
This story takes place just after Jade goes home to Minbar with John and Delenn, after David gets home from his early training session. now before you say anything David's training is not finished but when I wrote the story I had not yet seen sleeping in light, and I want to stick to the accurate storyline as much as possible.
I'm putting my own spin on how the Liberation of Centauri Prime goes. Hopefully I can pull it off. If you will remember, from the first part, the trip to earth on the Whitestar. John and Delenn were speaking of matters that couldn't wait for their return to Minbar. it was at this time that Delenn told him of the Drakh and their hold on Centauri Prime. The epilogue will be the same as Part one, add-ons to sleeping in light.. I don't want to change the episode just show what happened with Jade. He has a small part anyway because it is a time for John and Delenn to say their final good-byes and for John to spend time with the friends that became his family.
To GreyMouser My Beta: You are the best. Thank you for working on this with me and giving me Ideas that I hadn't thought of, and making things less nuts. You're a god-send, and I'm grateful.
Enjoy the show
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Delenn awoke as soon as the whimpers began to filter through the intercom near the bed. She lie still, listening, hoping that Jade's sleep would calm on its own. In the three months since their return to Minbar he had begun to sleep more peacefully. He'd also moved into a room down the hall from herself and John. David's room was just across from Jade's. He had decided to move to the separate room when David had returned from his Pre-Training at Ranger Headquarters. Jade wanted David's approval so much. John had said it was a case of big brother hero worship, and that he'd grow out of it. Her train of thought broke off as she heard Jade scream out for Susan.
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He opened his eyes as he was bidden. Something was different. Mama and Daddy weren't tied up in front of him. It was Susochke. She was being held by a Dark man he didn't recognize. The man had a robe and hood on. Bishop stood over him as the hooded man began to cut Susochke. Jade screamed at the man to stop. Begged them to take him instead. "Don't take Susochke away from me. Don't take her away from Marcus! Please! I'll do anything you want me to just don't hurt her." He began screaming her name as she slid down the man's arms leaving a trail of crimson on his clothing.
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Jade awoke in his mother's arms. She was shaking him hard.
"Wake up, dear one, wake up. I am here."
He clutched her robe tightly, "Mommy," he sobbed, "I had another dream, but it was different. They..." He trailed off. Then he looked up at her with panic in his eyes. "I wanna call Susochke! Mommy, can I? Please! I need to call her right now."
Delenn then knew what had happened in the dream, still she tried to find a different course of action to calm him. "It is very late on Earth now, little one. Susan is most likely deep in sleep. You know about the time difference. Where here the night has barely reached midway, Earth's night is soon coming to an end."
"I know Mommy, but I need to talk to her. Please!" His last word was strained with emotion.
"All right come on let us go and make the call so that we may get back to sleep." Jade nodded and scrambled out of bed.
They left Jade's room and walked into the living area. Delenn activated the Stellar Com wall unit and called up Susan Ivanova's number. As the call went through, Jade stepped up in front of the screen.
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Susan Ivanova had been having a pleasant dream when an incessant beeping annoyed her out of it. She opened her eyes to find herself in Marcus's embrace, and took a moment to once again revel in the wonder of that particular miracle. Then the Stellar Com bleeped for attention once more. She grumbled and slipped out of Marcus's arms. 'This better be good,' she thought to herself. She hated to be wakened in the middle of the night. That was secretly part of the reason she agreed to be a general. She got to make her own hours, so to speak. As long as Earth wasn't at war, she got to sleep the night through.
She grabbed her robe off the end of the bed and made her way across the darkened room to the wall monitor. She rubbed the sleep from her eyes and requested the call be transferred to the bedroom monitor. She then bade the computer, "Receive."
A small face filled the screen. At the look on that face she immediately dropped her air of irritation. "Dushenka, what is it?"
"I had to call and see if you were okay. I'm sorry it's late. Mom didn't want me to call; she wanted me to wait until morning, but I just couldn't. So is everything there okay?"
"Yes, everything is fine. Are you all right?"
He nodded though his face disagreed with his affirmative action.
"Tell me what's wrong, my Dushenka." He sniffled and she noticed him trembling. She once again, silently cursed the fact that he was so far away. She wished that she could reach out and hold him. She sighed, it was unavoidable. He would be coming soon for his month long visit, and she'd be able to comfort him then. He looked behind him for a moment. Then turned and started to speak.
"I had a bad dream, Susochke. It started like the one about my old family, but then it changed and," his breath began to come in short gasps. Then Delenn was there kneeling beside him and she hugged him to her. "And the dream changed. I saw a different person. He was wearing a robe or a cloak or something that made it hard to tell who or what he was, and I got a cold feeling all over when I looked at him, and my family changed, Susochke, and I ... I saw you instead." He looked on the verge of tears once again.
"Its okay Dushenka, it was a dream. I am here, I'm fine, look." She held her arms out to her sides as if presenting herself. "I was awakened a bit early, but that's nothing new."
"Are you sure, Susochke?"
"Of course, I am. I am fine."
"No, are you sure it was a dream. Lyta says that sometimes dreams can be a premo," he hesitated for a bit stumbling over the word then changed his mind, "a look at the future. What if what I dreamed really comes true."
"First of all, I am sure it was a dream. I am well protected. Marcus is here and we are a stone's throw from Earthdome. No one can get me here. Second, I think that you're spending too much time with Lyta."
"Mom says that I need to develop my telepathic abilities, but I didn't want to move away from Mommy and Dad so that I could learn to serve society like other telepaths here on Minbar. Lyta volunteered to teach me. She only comes for a week every couple months. I don't see her that much." Susan noted a dejected look cross his features. "But I do see her more than I see you. I miss you, Susochke."
"I know; and I miss you too, very much, but in a week you'll be coming here for a month. Tell you what. I'll prove to you, then, that I am safe. Deal?"
"Deal."
"See you in a week kiddo. You better get back to bed. I know you have lessons tomorrow."
"Okay. Goodnight Susochke."
"Goodnight, my Dushenka." With that last she cut the transmission.
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The transmission cut out and Delenn gathered Jade into her arms. "Come on, little one, lets get you back to bed."
"Mom," Jade said in a quiet subdued way that she had learned he used when he was afraid to ask something.
"What is it, my love?"
"Can I sleep in your room again?"
"Of course, where did you think I was taking you?"
"My room. I want to be like David and have my own room, but some times I think that I am not ready to stay by myself. I still get scared that he'll come back and hurt me again."
"I know, Jade. Remember, though, that he will never harm you physically again. He can not because he no longer exists in this life. The only way he can harm you is in your mind. The dreams you have are a way that he still harms you, and if staying with your dad and me at night keeps him from hurting you in that way. If it helps you to master your fears, then it is good for you to stay with us."
He didn't answer her verbally, but he put his arms around her waist and hugged her firmly. She hugged him back and lifted him from the floor. She then proceeded to her and John's room. She noted as she entered that John was quiet, and wondered how long he'd been awake.
"Hi there." He said as they entered.
She set Jade on the floor and he climbed into the large bed with his father. "Hi Dad."
John gathered the boy to him, and pulled up some covers leaving both room and covers enough for Delenn to utilize. "I wondered when you were going to get here. It took an awfully long time."
"I know. I hadda call Susochke before I could come in here. Mom went with me and made the call for me." He snuggled closer, "I had a bad dream about her."
"Well, we can talk about that tomorrow. Right now it's late and you and your mother and I need our rest." As if to confirm John's statement Jade yawned deeply, and drowsily nodded his head as he rolled over into Delenn's side. She lifted her head to give him a soft kiss on the forehead as he slid his small arm across her stomach to give her a hug. These actions had become a small ritual between them when Jade woke. It seemed to help best. He would snuggle with John while Delenn got back into bed, and they wouldn't talk about the dreams until the next morning, if then since there were times that Jade didn't want to talk about the nightmares. Then Delenn would kiss his forehead and he would hug her and then they would fall asleep.
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Susan killed the connection to Minbar and turned to get back into bed, only to bump into Marcus who was standing behind her. "Hey, sorry I woke you."
"No problem, Suz, I heard his voice and wondered what was up." He reached out and took her in his arms. Only then did he notice her tremors. "His dream is bothering you more than you let on. Isn't it?"
"I have no idea what you're talking about." She said even as she nodded her head. He chuckled to himself at the gesture. Her mind still insisted on being curt with him, but her heart controlled her actions and told him all he needed to know.
"What he said about Lyta's warning, it's true. My mother used to tell me about her premonitions. She said that they started as something else and then, BOOM, they turn into something that you are sure is either going to happen, or is happening at that moment." She wrapped her arms around him. "She said that was the reason that she met Ganya and me at the hospital when I broke my arm on the playground at school. She had a dream about it, and it was so detailed that she knew instantly what hospital and when to be there. She didn't try to stop it, she couldn't with the psi-corps around. All she could do was be there for me."
"Well, I suppose that we will just have to wait and see what happens. I personally think that you have a good chance that it was nothing more than Jade's subconscious bringing forth his worries, or it's his way of coping with the long separation. Either way, I wouldn't worry about it now. I think we, my dear, should get back in bed until that blasted alarm of yours decides to go off. What do you think?"
"I couldn't agree more."
With that said Marcus bent and scooped her up off the floor and she let out a shriek as he took her back to their bed.
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Jade awoke to John's alarm going off. He stretched and sat up, rubbing his gray-blue eyes as he did so. As he looked around he saw that John hadn't quite awakened yet, so he tapped his father's shoulder softly. "Dad, your alarm is going off." He whispered so he wouldn't wake his mom. "Dad, it's time for you to get up."
"John," Delenn reached over Jade and poked John in the ribs, "turn off that horrible thing."
"Mmmph, huh," it took a second for him to realize what she meant, "oh right. Computer shut off the alarm." The racket ended abruptly. John sat up as Jade climbed over him. He grabbed the little boy, prepared to hug him good morning, and he felt Jade's body go rigid. He immediately let loose of his son. "I'm sorry Pal, I didn't mean to scare you."
Jade took a deep breath, "It's okay, Dad. I just forgot for a minute that I was safe. I'm sorry that I still do that sometimes. I know in my heart that you will never hurt me."
John smiled at him and pulled him close. "I'm glad to hear you say that." Then a mischievous look glinted in his eye that, Jade knew from experience, meant run for your life, or get tickled until you can't breath. Jade squirmed, and ran when he broke free.
"Can't catch me." Then from the doorway he boldly turned and stuck out his tongue and blew a raspberry at John. Who decided that, that single gesture deserved a good chase. As Jade turned to run once more, John bolted after him. Delenn groaned and decided that it was hopeless to try to sleep anymore. Jade turned left as he entered the hall, since going right meant a dead end on the veranda. He intended to head for either his room or David's. He only got halfway there. John caught him and tickled him until he begged for mercy. The racket Jade created while being ticklishly tortured roused David from his room.
"Uhgh, come on you guys. I don't have class for another hour and a half. The least you can do is let me sleep for another forty-five minutes." His voice was groggy with sleep.
Jade looked at John, who nodded, "Okay we'll be quiet at least while we are in this part of the house. Go on and get dressed, Jade. I'll meet you in the den in a bit."
Jade nodded and went to his room. He opened the door and entered. "Lights please."
The room became illuminated. Against the wall opposite the door was his dresser, and desk. His homework, finished, sat atop it. Above the desk was a window overlooking the crystalline buildings of Tuzanor. His bed was to the right of the door near the right hand wall, on the other side of which was John and Delenn's room. It wasn't a large bed, but he liked it, for now.
Above it, on a peg hung the baseball cap that John had given him, between the bed and the door stood his nightstand. On top of the stand were two photos. One was a portrait of him sitting in Susan's lap. A second photo was a family picture of John, Delenn, and David with Jade himself sitting between John and Delenn, and David standing behind him. Also a small night-crystal, which glowed with an inner light when the room was dark, and a music reader with a data crystal in the slot. Atop the dresser were more photos. One of Danny and Liz and Jessie Ann. Another was of David and him with their grandparents. It had been taken when Nancy and David, the elder, had come to visit last month after David returned home from training.
Shelves lined the right wall of the room, and along the wall the door was on. One shelf was reserved for his school books. He looked them over until he found the one he was looking for. He took his reading text to his desk. Lining the shelves were books that John and Delenn had ordered for him. Some of the storybooks were from Earth, and some were from Minbar. His closet was on the wall opposite from where his bed sat. He went to the doors and slid them apart. It was a large walk in closet. His small collection of clothes didn't take up much space, so the rest was used as a storage room for most of his toys. He looked over the outfits hanging on the right wall. Choosing a comfortable set, he left the closet and dressed himself. He then made his bed, grabbed his book and his homework off the desk, and left the room. He turned left and walked into the den.
The den was a rounded room, to cause a feeling of comfortable intimacy. The four foot out from the wall, as one entered, was raised around three-fourths of the room. Two soft steps led to a lower crew-pit like area. A small collection of matched furniture was nestled near the wall monitor. Upon the raised portions of the floor sat John's desk, facing the opposite wall and Delenn's own desk, which faced his. Jade had asked his dad, shortly after arriving on Minbar, why their desks were on opposite sides of the room. John's reply had been that when they'd been closer together his documents sometimes ended up on her desk when he was in a hurry to get somewhere and tossed them on the nearest surface. Jade had laughed good and hard at the look his mother had given.
There were two sets of stairs. One leading down to the gardens was across from the hall Jade was in. The other, leading to the third floor of the house, was behind John's Desk. The medical facilities and guest rooms were up there. Another door half-way between Delenn's desk and the stairs going down led to the kitchen and a small breakfast nook.
He descended the two subtle steps to the lower floor and crossed to the couch, which faced John's desk as well as a set of arm chairs, and sat perpendicular to the wall monitor. Jade climbed onto the couch and opened his reading text. He flipped to his lesson from the night before and began to sound out the words.
After a little while John entered the room and crossed to his desk to gather his work for the day. Jade went back to his task and read part of the text that had been assigned him. When he was about midway through the text John came over and took the book out of his hands. Jade, who'd been engrossed in the work, started and looked up. "Hey I was reading that."
John chuckled, "I know that, but its early in the morning you can finish when Tannier gets here to give you your lessons. Right now, you and I are missing Reebo and Zooty."
Jade took back the book. "That's okay Dad, I wanna read some more."
John shook his head at Jade's determination. He had only been taking lessons for six weeks and he loved it. Jade had, for the first month, never missed the morning episode of "Reebo and Zooty." He had loved sitting with John watching something they both liked. Now all he wanted to do was read, or do his other lessons. John couldn't blame him though. He had never had the opportunity to go to school and learn. He was really very proud that the little guy was so enthusiastic. 'Lord knows, David never was.' He thought. "Well, I guess, I should let you read then."
"You wanna hear me. I'm gettin' really good."
"You bet, Pal. What are we reading today?"
"Tannier assigned a chapter out of the Chronicles of Valen," Jade made a disgusted face, "and a chapter out of the Velveteen Rabbit." He then whispered conspiratorially. "Just between you and me I like the Rabbit story better."
John suppressed a laugh at that statement. He could understand where Jade was coming from. The stories of Valen were a bit of a stretch for Jade. John resolved to speak with Delenn about it. He didn't think Jade was ready for the structured reading that the Chronicles of Valen presented. Although he thought Jade might enjoy them when he got a little older.
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Delenn, fresh from the shower, and dressed according to the day's schedule entered the den. John and Jade sat together on the couch, and Jade was reading aloud to John from an Earth children's book. She remembered reading that story to David over and over when he was small. She stood in the door for a moment and listened to Jade's halting progress reading the story. She smiled as John helped him to sound out one particularly long word.
"Good job." He complimented when Jade had reread the word. She walked into the room, crossing to them.
"Yes, Jade, a very good job. You are learning quickly."
"I like learning. I get to do stuff that is new and fun." He turned back to his book.
John seized the opportunity, "Delenn, can I talk to you for a minute."
"I suppose, since I have nothing more pressing to deal with." She flashed that special smile she used when teasing him.
He shook his head, and taking her hand led her over to his desk. "Jade tells me that Tannier has him reading from the Chronicles of Valen. Don't you think that is a little advanced for him. He is barely getting the hang of The Velveteen Rabbit. How is he possibly going to understand Valen's prophecies?"
"He cannot. I didn't study Valen's prophecies until I had been in Temple for a number of years. The Chronicles of Valen however are not his prophecies the Chronicles are, just that, a chronicle of his deeds. His actions during the Great War. Stories of the battles and negotiations he conducted."
"Oh. In the Chronicles what stories are first?"
"They are told in the sequence that they happened. His negotiations with the warrior caste to get them to accept his gift, which we know is Babylon 4, then his work to establish the Rangers, and then his actions during the battles of the war."
"No wonder he thought it was dull. He has been reading about politics."
"He is having the same reaction as I did at his age. I hated the political stories. I wanted action; something to keep my attention. It was always easier to skip the political stories."
John's mouth hung agape. Never had he pictured his wife not totally engrossed in the prophecies and legends of Valen.
"I didn't truly appreciate them until I got older and became interested in politics myself. I actually went back and reread the Chronicles many times, and they were much more fulfilling when I was older. Perhaps we should instruct Tannier to concentrate on those stories that hold his attention."
"Good idea, but shouldn't he stick to the Minbari teaching tradition? This is the only time I have ever heard Jade express a lack of enthusiasm for learning. I think, now that I know more about it, that we should leave it be. He is going to be having lessons for quite a while yet, and not all of them are going to be fun and games. Sometimes he will have dull important lessons that he will have to learn anyway. Isn't it best he learn that now."
"Yes, I believe that myself, I was just awaiting your decision on the matter." She teased him.
Jade walked over and looked at them for a moment. "Dad, has it been forty-five minutes yet?"
"Forty-five minutes from when, Pal?"
"From when David asked us to let him sleep for forty-five more minutes."
"Oh, yeah it's been forty-five minutes." John looked the boy up and down. "Yes, you can go and wake him up."
Jade flashed a mischievous smile and was off running before John could say anything about it. He opened David's door and peered into the room, which was not nearly as neat as Jade's. To his left stood the dresser. The top of it was cluttered with small figures and a set of models that David had constructed by himself, or with John's help. His arm chair was covered with clothing, clean or dirty Jade couldn't tell. His desk was on the far left wall with his computer terminal linked to his personal wall monitor. He had an office chair sitting at the desk. David's bed was on the far right wall facing the wall monitor. In short, it was just about the coolest room Jade had ever seen. The bed was huge to Jade's small perception. David was huddled in the middle of the bed with the covers up to his chin. Jade grinned wickedly and ran for the bed. He jumped up in the middle of David's bed and landed partially on David.
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John and Delenn listened quietly after Jade ran from the room. They didn't wait long; though, until they heard, "Hey, get off my bed!"
John chuckled, "The little sneak, he's looking for a world of trouble if he keeps that up."
"I just hope that David does not scare him. We have not had any problems with him hiding for almost a month. I would hate to see a reoccurrence of his fear."
"Don't worry. I told David to go easy on the kid." He gave a short laugh. "He asked me if I thought he was stupid, and said that we worry too much."
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"Jade, I have asked you repeatedly to stop jumping in the middle of my bed to wake me up. All you have to do is stick your head in here and say, 'David its time to get up.' I promise I'll get up."
"I know that, but this is way more fun."
"How can I get you to stop doing it though? Without bodily harm being inflicted, and without having to scare the life out of you."
Jade thought for a bit. Then his eyes gleamed, "I made a bet with Dad that I could make you mad enough to chase me through the house. If I do, he has to take two whole days off to spend time with me before I go to Susochke's. He doesn't think that you are capable of getting mad at me. Help me win the bet and I'll stop."
"Kid brother, you have got yourself a deal." Jade beamed with joy.
"Thanks, David."
"So when do you want to do this?" .
"As soon as possible I leave for Susochke's in five days." Jade illustrated the point by sticking his spread-fingered hand near David's face
"Okay then, get ready to run." David got up and helped Jade out of the bed. "GET OUT OF MY ROOM."
Jade smiled and ran.
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John looked up as Jade ran through the room with David, still in his pajamas, hot on his heels. Delenn had returned to their room to get some documents she'd forgotten.
"YOU ARE SUCH A PEST! GET BACK HERE. I OWE YOU FOR THAT STUNT."
John stood, "I'll be damned. He actually did it."
"Help!"
"Damn it. DAVID," John ran after them. By the time he caught up Jade was writhing on the floor. David was tickling him with no mercy.
"Stop David, STOP, I...I promise...hahahaha...I won't do it...again...stop."
"OKAY," John called over the racket, "That's enough, David let him up. He has been sufficiently paid back I think."
"Fine, the spoiled brat, I give, but he had better stop jumping on me in the morning."
Jade, now freed, wrapped his arms around John, who lifted him off the floor while speaking to David, "Why don't you go get dressed. I think I need to have a talk with your brother."
David, acting as if he had calmed, since he had not actually been mad, said, "Okay, but be sure you get him to stop."
"Consider it stopped." David walked around behind John, back toward his room. As he passed behind, Jade gave him a thumbs up. David smiled and walked on.
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John returned to the den carrying Jade. "Kid, you have certainly become very brave over the past month."
"I know that you and David won't hurt me, Dad. He was mad, but all he did was tickle me. And now you're mad, but all you are doing is talking to me. I know that you won't hurt me."
"You also won our bet."
Jade smiled, "I guess so. I hadn't even thought about it."
"Liar. You and I both know that you and David staged that little scene."
Jade looked chagrined. "How did you know?"
"Because, David is even tempered, like Delenn, and he knows how scared you get when people yell."
"Okay, you got us, but you still owe me two whole days."
"Oh, do I? He wasn't actually mad enough to chase you. What did you promise him for that little show?"
"I promised to stop jumping up in the middle of his bed in the morning. He agreed that he would help me win the bet."
"Well, it looks like you went through a lot of negotiations, so I guess I can take a couple vacation days with you."
Jade hugged John's neck. "Thanks Dad. Are we gonna have a lot of fun? Could you teach me to play baseball? And could we play some video games? And we could watch Reebo and Zooty together."
"Yeah, we can do all those things, after your lessons. Hey, don't look so down. I'll give Tannier a little vacation and teach you to read myself. It won't take the whole day Pal."
"Okay, Dad, but you gotta promise that we'll do the fun stuff too."
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John and Delenn sat with their sons at breakfast. Jade had calmed some what since sitting at the table. Delenn had thought he would burst with excitement when he told her that John was going to take a two day vacation to spend time with him. She had looked at John with skepticism. He just flashed a lopsided grin at her. That was about all the confirmation he was going to give her. Then David had entered with an armful of school books and his bag slung over a shoulder.
"Yeah, Dad's taking off to play baseball and go exploring and watch Reebo and Zooty. In general, he's gonna goof off."
"Not exactly, I am going to conduct Jade's morning lessons on both days. I don't think that is going to be a cake and coffee run at all."
"Somehow, I believe you are right." Delenn said, watching Jade bounce with anticipation. "Come, let us sit and have our breakfast."
That had been fifteen minutes ago, and he was only now calmed enough to eat his meal.
"David, what are you gonna do today after you get out of class?" Jade asked around a mouthful of oatmeal.
"Not sure kiddo, why?"
"I thought maybe we could do something. Just me and you."
"Like what?"
Jade shrugged, "I dunno, whatever you want."
"Well, we'll see, okay. It depends on how much homework I have to do. If I don't have too much maybe you can read to me or something."
Jade nodded satisfied.
Delenn smiled a maternal smile as she listened to her sons. John noticed it, and decided it was one of the most beautiful sites in the galaxy when she looked like that.
"Hey, love," he said to her, "what's your schedule for today?"
"I have a Ranger meeting..." Jade groaned at the mention of a meeting, and she sent him a pointed look before continuing. "...this afternoon. Most of the morning I will use to finish the paperwork left from the new trade agreements between the Drazi and Pak'ma'ra. Are you thinking of taking today for one of your vacation days?"
"No I thought I'd wait until the two days before we take Jade to Susan's."
"Then why ask about my schedule?"
"Well I figured that if you were around here this morning I could leave a message with you for Tannier. Just to let him know that the last two days Jade is here on Minbar I will be taking over his lessons."
"I am sure I can do that for you. My meeting is not until later in the afternoon."
"Mom, is Dad cooking dinner again tonight?" The look of distaste on Jade's face set David to laughing.
"He's learning way too fast that Dad's cooking is better left alone."
"No, Jade, I will not be gone long. My meeting is just an update on some of the things that the Rangers are doing at present."
"So you'll be home early."
She reached over and lightly resting the tips of her fingers under his chin and pulled his face to hers until their foreheads met. "Of course, little one. I will be home before it is time to 'tuck you into bed' as your father says." She pretended not to notice as Jade flinched with her use of the word father.
"Good."
Abruptly David stood, "Well I better go if I'm not going to be late."
"Have a good day, son." John looked up from his meal and coffee.
"See you at dinner," Delenn said as she stood to hug him and straighten his collar.
"Bye," Jade uttered between bites.
All this was said as David grabbed his books from the floor beside his chair, and left.
Tannier entered the room from the door where David had disappeared.
"Hey, you're early," Said Jade indignantly.
"Yes, I am, but I should think that the earlier we start; the earlier we finish."
"Whatever you say." Jade hugged John and said he'd see Delenn later, then departed the room with Tannier.
********************************B5***************************
"Do you know where they are going to study today?"
"No, Anla-shok Tannier rarely tells me where they go during the time of teaching. I suspect that Tannier takes him to a different spot everyday. The same as he did with David."
"Don't you worry about him?" John asked.
"Not really. Tannier never let anything happen to David when he was teaching him. I do not think that he would let anything happen to Jade either. He takes his positions very seriously."
"Don't I know it. Back when he was a house guard, I thought he was going to drive me nuts."
"Yes, he did get underfoot quite a bit. Like I said he takes his position seriously. Especially now that he is a bodyguard and teacher for our youngest son. Do not worry, John, if he was going to take Jade anywhere that there might be a risk, he would ask us first."
"I suppose you're right." He glanced at the clock. "Ooh, jeez, I'm gonna be late. See you at dinner."
"Wouldn't miss it." Delenn then stood and kissed him thoroughly. He then walked out the door. She cleaned off the table and went to her desk to begin the paperwork piled there.